8 Dec 2011

WhatIWore: This is a guest post by my intern extraordinaire, Sheri! I love her ideas on how to make inexpensive (and fast!) presents for your friends or family! 

I like to give great holiday gifts just as much as the next person. However, being a college student, my wallet tends to limit the amount of “fiscal love” I can delve out each season. Have no fear fellow student loan sufferers, here are six of my favorite DIY gifts that can be worked into any college budget!

 My grandmother always says, “Coffee always smells better than it tastes.” I happen to think coffee tastes delicious, but I can’t argue that its smell is a key part of that. Here is an easy gift to assemble that will allow even those who don’t enjoy the taste of coffee to still enjoy its warming scent. 

SUPPLIES:

• medium size bowl
• 1 cup of coffee beans
• 1 tea light

Step 1: Fill the bowl with coffee beans.

Step 2: Wedge the tea light 1/2 inch into the coffee beans.

Wrapping: Use cellophane holiday bags to wrap the candle and hold the coffee beans in place. Tie the top off with a cute bow and voilá! Every coffee lovers dream!

 

These cookies are my absolute favorite cookie come December because they look like you spent forever making them and are easy to make in large batches. Every year my mom and I make them for our friends and they’re a huge hit!

SUPPLIES:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 cups or 30 large marshmallows
• 1 1/2 tsp. green food coloring
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 cups of cornflakes
• 3 Tbsp. Cinnamon Red Hot Candies

Step 1: Melt the butter over low hear. 

Step 2: Add the marshmallows and melt them over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. 

Step 3: Remove pan from heat and whisk in food coloring and vanilla until well blended. 

Step 4: Stir in cornflakes to coat well. Keep mixture warm by keeping by keeping in it in a bath of warm water. Working quickly so the mixture doesn’t harden, use 2 spoons or slightly greased fingers, to drop small mounds of cornflake mixture onto wax paper. With slightly greased fingers, quickly form the wreaths with holes in the middle. 

Step 5: Decorate with red-hots.

Wrapping: Place cookies on wax paper in simple gift boxes from The Container Store. If you want to really wow them with packaging, try this cute ribbon-tying technique from Pinterest. 

We’ve all given friends picture frames over the holidays. This year, mix it up by giving friends your favorite photographs in a new and unusual way!

SUPPLIES:

• 1 transparent jar with lid
• enough olive oil to fill the jar
• photo printed on photo paper that can fit in the jar 

Step 1: Place the photo in the jar. You may want to tape it to the bottom to hold it up if it’s too small.

Step 2: While holding the photo straight up, fill the jar to the top with olive oil. Thenjust screw the cap back on and you’re finished!

 Wrapping: Take whatever ribbon you have lying around the house and tie a bow around the top of the jar. Feel free to make a small card and tie it into the bow if you’d like!

 

I made this white board for my room at school and it has become one of my favorite pieces of decor and it was so easy to make!

SUPPLIES:

• Antique picture frame
• Store-bought picture frame with the same dimensions as the antique frame
• 1/2 a yard of fabric
• Any other details you would like to put on the white board (iron on patches, decals etc.) 

Step 1: Take the cardboard backing from the store-bought frame and lay it on the wrong side of the fabric you chose. 

Step 2: Cut the fabric so there is a 1 inch plus border around the cardboard and then cut each corner diagonally.  

Step 3: Fold the edges of the fabric back onto the cardboard and tape excess fabric in place.

Step 4: Add any extra decals you would like to the from of the white board. I glued an iron-on anchor patch, but you could use any flat object that looks good with your fabric. 

Step 5: Remove the store-bought frames glass and place it in the antique frame. Then place the fabric covered back into the frame and tape it into place. Now you have an adorable and cost friendly gift any friend would love!

There’s no better feeling than warming up with a mug full of hot chocolate after being outside in the cold. This holiday season, treat your friends to a tasty home-made hot chocolate mix that will keep them warm all winter long!

SUPPLIES

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
• 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 Tbsp. crushed candy canes
• 1 transparent jar

Step 1: Layer ingredients in recipe based on color and texture (whatever you think looks best). 

Step 2. Finish with Candy Canes at the top of the jar.  

 Wrapping: Screw the cap on, tie a bow, and presto, you’re done! 

Last but not least, the perfect floral bouquet for any college student; one that won’t die! Paper-Source has a wide variety of adorable flower bouquets that will last you all year long.  

SUPPLIES:

• 1 Paper-Source Flower Bouquet Kit,
• Vase
• Scissors

 Step 1: Purchase your favorite flower kit. We love the Mini-Magnolia Flower Kit because of the cheery colors and the fact that you can divide the flowers up to make multiple gifts. 

Step 2: Follow the kits instruction. I promise they’re very easy! 

Wrapping: To finish off the gift, place the flowers in a cute colored vase. I love the Salong Vase from Ikea for only $7.99!

Happy Holidays!